God's Potters by Jackson W. Carroll

Book Description

Pastoral leadership is an occupation in flux. In this important and comprehensive study, Jackson Carroll considers the many factors - the changing roles of clergy and laypeople, the opening of ordination to women, and the increasing shortage of clergy, among others - that shape the work of twenty-first-century congregations and clergy. Building on Paul's image of Christians as "clay jars," Carroll provides a portrait of "God's potters" - pastors whose calling is to form their congregational jars so that they reveal rather than hide God's treasure. Carroll uses data from Pulpit & Pew's National Clergy Survey, likely the most representative survey of Protestant and Catholic clergy ever undertaken, as well as focus group interviews and responses from congregations, to look at who is doing the work of ministry today, what this work involves, and how clergy lead their congregations. "God's Potters" culminates with an account of pastoral excellence that leads into specific recommendations for building and sustaining excellence in ministry.

Books By Author Jackson W. Carroll

A comparative analysis of the impact of the post-war "Baby-Boom" generation on Christianity around the world. Taking a cross-cultural approach, the contributors examine ten advanced countries and explore the ways baby-boomers have helped reshape and redefine Christian institutions.

This text offers a view of theological education in the USA. The authors' goal is to understand the way in which institutional culture affects the outcome of the educational process. They undertake ethnographic studies of two seminaries - one evangelical and one mainline Protestant.

Author Biography - Jackson W. Carroll

Jackson W Carroll is the Ruth W and A Morris Williams Jr Professor Emeritus of Religion and Society and recently retired as director of Pulpit and Pew: Research on Pastoral Leadership at Duke Divinity School.

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